Psychologist - Health/Clinical: SickKids Healthy Living Clinic (HLC)
The Hospital for Sick Children is a leading tertiary pediatric center providing cutting-edge medical and mental health care to complex children, youth, and their families. Through excellence, innovation, understanding, and hope, the SickKids Department of Psychology is a leader in Precision Child Health. With a focus on equity and inclusion, SickKids Psychology integrates clinical care, research, and education to generate new knowledge, educate future specialized psychologists, and address the complex developmental, medical, and psychosocial needs of children and youth treated at SickKids.
The SickKids Healthy Living Clinic (formerly known as the SickKids Team Obesity Management Program, STOMP) provides outpatient interdisciplinary assessment and treatment to children, youth, and their caregivers for complex concerns related to weight, eating, activity, and related medical and psychological comorbidities. The team is comprised of enthusiastic specialists from Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Endocrinology, Adolescent Medicine, Pediatrics, Nutrition, Exercise, and Physiotherapy.
Mental health providers on the team are integral in the assessment and treatment of complex and often severe health psychology presentations that include emotional eating, hyperphagia (secondary to hypothalamic obesity), binge eating, and adherence issues, as well as related co-morbid psychological issues such as social anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, bullying, school refusal and body image concerns. Additional socioeconomic, genetic, and familial/interpersonal relationship factors have a particularly strong impact on treatment and prognosis. Currently, treatment is primarily cognitive behavioural (CBT), with other approaches (e.g., MI, DBT skills, EFT, and parent management training) integrated as appropriate.
Here's What You'll Get To Do:
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Provide psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment to children & adolescents with disordered eating and related mental health difficulties
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Apply specialized psychological expertise in multiple treatment approaches and drive practice-based evidence to improve child and family health outcomes
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Provide the treatment team with clinical formulations that help address and prioritize the psychological complexities requiring intervention
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Work collaboratively with a large interdisciplinary health care team, participating in consultation, team meetings, and discharge/transition planning processes
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Educate, support and prepare patients and parents for discharge/transition planning
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Provide clinical teaching and supervision to PhD-level Psychology trainees, Adolescent Medicine Residents & Fellows,and other health professional colleagues
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Participate in departmental initiatives and program-specific committees
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Participate in the program planning & implementation initiatives and evaluation of the SickKids Healthy Living Clinic, as appropriate
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The role requires services to be delivered in-person and through virtual platforms such as ZOOM and Teams; both working from home and on-site at the hospital are required
Here's What You'll Need:
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Completion of a CPA/APA recognized Ph.D. degree program in Clinical or Health Psychology is required with a pediatric/developmental focus.
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Minimum two (2) years related experience in a paediatric clinical-health psychology setting is an asset.
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Experience in treating patients with weight and /or eating issues is an asset
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Registered and in good standing with the College of Psychologists of Ontario
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Candidates in supervised practice are encouraged to apply
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Experience in the delivery of outpatient-based evidence-informed therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Emotion-Focused (EFT) therapies is an asset
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Demonstrated skills in patient and family engagement, customizing treatment to the needs of patients and families, inclusive of trauma-informed, culturally competent care, and supporting families in all phases of treatment, including preparing for transition and discharge
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Knowledge and experience with crisis prevention and intervention models
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Experience with all aspects of measurement-based care
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Experience providing clinical supervision for PhD-level psychology trainees is an asset
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Excellent assessment, diagnostic, and formulation skills for general mental health and health psychology issues
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Knowledge of research methodology, data collection, and analysis is an asset
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Demonstrated experience and knowledge in culturally competent practice, and extensive understanding of the importance of health equity, diversity, and inclusion in the delivery of healthcare services
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Ability to work in a dynamic, highly accountable inter-professional environment where the needs of patients and families are at the center of program design, decision-making, and continuous quality improvement
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Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, problem-solving, and organizational skills
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Strong written and oral communication skills
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Proficiency in the use of electronic platforms such as Microsoft Office, hospital documentation systems, and other relevant technology
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Experience working in a health science hospital environment is a strong asset.
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Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives
Employment Type:
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0.4 FTE (2 days per week), 1-year contract
To accommodate the needs of patients and families, flexible hours are required; while working from home may be possible, the job is primarily on-site at the Elizabeth St location.
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